NSCAG UPDATE FEBRUARY 2022
“Whether Nicaragua under Daniel Ortega, Venezuela under Hugo Chavez, Brazil under Lula, Argentina under Cristina Kirchner, Bolivia under Evo Morales, socialism and socialist ideas continue to hold traction among the masses of Latin America in whom the spirit and memory of Guevara remains alive, no matter the ocean of reactionary propaganda churned out of those laboratories of anti-human ideas otherwise known as the newsrooms of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and so on.” – quote from an article by John Wight, Morning Star – ‘After Guevara: the struggle for progress in Latin America’ – to read the full article see here
Dear Friends
For the last sixteen years, Nicaragua has been subjected to intense hostility and aggression by the United States. Starting in 2007 when the Sandinistas returned to the presidency, the unconventional war waged by the US has included the funnelling of millions of dollars to opposition groups in Nicaragua, a failed coup attempt in 2018, illegal unilateral sanctions (the 2018 Nica Act and the recently passed RENACER act), and a pre- and post-election USAID destabilisation plan called RAIN that began in 2020.
Against this background, and in the face of continued ill-informed and biased attacks by corporate media, Nicaragua has achieved a degree of economic and social progress that is remarkable. Poverty and extreme poverty have been more than halved, maternal mortality has been reduced by 68%, electricity coverage is now almost 100%, the country has 90% self-sufficiency in food and economic growth in 2021 was 9%.
With 58% of the national budget devoted to health and education, the FSLN government continues to implement policies which put the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable first and which prioritises health, education, infrastructure, housing, decent work and the right to live in peace. And a survey by M & R Consultants on 26 January revealed that President Daniel Ortega had 70% citizen approval just three months after being re-elected for his fifth term – see link here.
On Nicaragua’s Achievements
‘A Year of Big Advances in Nicaragua’ – article by Nan McCurdy, Alliance for Global Justice – see link here
‘Nicaragua: What We Saw, What’s Next’ – recording of an Alliance for Global Justice webinar held on 30th January – US citizens who attended the 10th January inauguration of Nicaragua’s elected national leaders – President and Vice President, deputies in the National Assembly, members of the Central American Parliament – share their experiences and observations of recent events and advances in the country – link here
‘The Privilege of Public School in Nicaragua’ – article by Becca Mohally Renk – see link here
‘How Nicaragua Fights Poverty & Empowers Women Through the Ministry of Family Economy’ – interview by Kawsachun News with Justa Pérez of the Ministry of Family, Community, Cooperative and Associative Economy (MEFCCA) – see link here
On Sanctions
‘The World is Facing Sanctions’ – speech by Ambassador Francisco Campbell to Alliance for Global Justice webinar held on January 23rd – see link here (note: to access the English version, click on where it says Descarga in the bottom right hand corner of the page) ‘Nicaragua warns latest EU-US sanctions will not derail the Sandinista revolution – article by Steve Sweeney, Morning Star – see link here Sanctioned Nicaraguan National Assembly Member Walmaro Gutiérrez Mercado speaks on being targeted by the US – see link here
On relations with China
‘Nicaragua: Partnership with China Defangs US Regime Change Tactics’ – article by Ben Gutman, Council on Hemispheric Affairs – see link here.
‘China is helping Nicaragua’s Sandinista government build houses for poor people’ - article by Benjamin Norton, Multipolarista – see link here
On the Organisation of American States
‘The Organization of American States (OAS) has never been a friend to the peoples of the Americas. This institution, ostensibly a space for multilateralism, has instead always been a tool for the U.S. Department of State. As Fidel Castro said in 1962, it is nothing but the U.S. Ministry of Colonies. That is truer now than ever before under the leadership of Secretary General Luis Almagro, who has been at the helm since March 2015. He is quite possibly the worst leader since the OAS was founded in 1948’. See the article in LA Progressive by Leonardo Flores of Code Pink on ’10 Reasons Why Almagro has to go’ – link here
And finally – a couple of reminders….
Some places still remain on NSC’s online Latin American Spanish courses starting on 21 February – for details and to register see link here And if your region or branch would like a speaker from NSCAG, please just email me on nscag@nicaraguasc.org.uk and we’ll be pleased to provide someone for your meeting.
With thanks as ever for your continued support and solidarity
Louise Richards,
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group
www.nscag.org February 2022